Woody and DeRoe Just Loved Being Cubs

[Gator]

After one received a standing ovation in the top of the first, the second received his in the bottom of the ninth. Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood returned "home" today and they say the fans are great, the atmosphere is the best there is in baseball and what they miss the most is just being a "Cub".

Mark DeRosa about the fans giving him a standing ovation:

"It makes you feel good," said DeRosa, who finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. "It makes you feel like they appreciated the way you played and went about your business. Like I've said, I didn't choose to leave. I'm glad they feel that way towards me and appreciate the way I played, and I feel the same way about them. The feeling is mutual."

"I enjoyed every minute of it until the final Theriot base hit," DeRosa said. "It's good to be back. I would've liked to have helped Cliffy out a little bit and gotten the W, but for me personally, the fans were awesome to me so I tip my hat to them."

Quotes taken from this article on Cubs.com

You earned it Mark. You came to the park everyday and played hard no matter what position it was. You should have been the teams MVP last season. IMO

DeRosa on just being a "Cub":

''The best two years of my career were in that [Cubs] clubhouse,'' he said. ''It's awesome here. I circled this day on my calender the day I was moved. I really enjoyed playing here.''

'That's the thing that was so disappointing. We all got along so well,'' he said, noting the rarity of players as committed to how each other played as to their own stats.

''Being a Cub,'' DeRosa said. ''It's a special thing. I hope the guys in that clubhouse don't take it for granted. This is a special place to play with the fans. I haven't found anywhere else that comes close.''

I have always stated my opinion was not the stats we would miss from these guys, but the leadership they brought to the club house. Last years team had great chemistry and hopefully after these past two days, this team will start to resemble some of that.

DeRosa and Woody on what they missed the most:

''Being a Cub,'' DeRosa said. ''It's a special thing. I hope the guys in that clubhouse don't take it for granted. This is a special place to play with the fans. I haven't found anywhere else that comes close.''

For Wood, it's also Wrigley Field.

''It's probably the best atmosphere you can find,'' he said.

Quotes taken from this article on Suntimes.com

I hate to keep harping on this because it's been a topic on most all blogs and newspapers, but i sure would love the Cubs to at least ask Cleveland what it would take. A sweep of the Indians this weekend could actually go a long way in the possible return of DeRoe.

Woody didn't have a whole lot to say in Post Game, as one would figure giving up the lead in the ninth.

Woody gave so much to this organization over his 10 years. Let us not forget who was the pitcher on the mound for game 1 and game 5 of the only playoff series most of us have ever seen the Cubs win.

Some will say Woody was hurt to much, spent to much time on the DL, etc... Woody also showed a TON of heart and character coming back every single time. Imagine how frustrating that would be to continue rehabbing and coming back only to have to go through it again.

While many of us would have given up on our dreams, let's not forget how hard Woody worked every time and the "cheap" contracts he signed toward the end saying he wanted to repay the Cubs for their loyalty to him and all the money his was paid for not pitching.

You're a class act Woody and i would have loved to see you play your entire career in a Cubbie uniform.